The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-29
strange Surgery.


Over year and half ago, says the
Lou fsviFe Courier Journal, there was
admitted to the male surgical ward
young man, Abraham Bradwsy, aged
p, and, 10 all outward appearances, of
sound health. To the physician in
charge be said he was a consumptive,
havir for many years, as be supposed,
been a victim to the ravages of that
disease. His physician, he alleged. had
diagnosed his afflictiOn as phthisis pull
uona!is, and had treated him accord
Ingly, but, dispite his efforts, no change
in the symptoms was noted.
In addition 10 this, the tibia of his
right leg was found 10 be much decayed;
so much. in fact, tha: the physicians at
the hospital were at first disposed to
look upon the entire lower part Of the
limb as dead bone, there being no flesh
at al on that portion of his leg between
! the knee and ankle joints. This cou-
dition bad existed, the young man said,
! for over four years, and all treatment
/ he lad received proved fruitless of any
good results.
/ Shortly after Bradway's admission to
/ the hospital he began to grow notice
/ ably worse, and in a few weeks was so
smaciated that his own friends failed to
! IecOgnize him, and his life was despair
I ed of. He lad fallen in weight from
! 162 to nimety-one pounds, and had re-
| fused to eat anything, saying that the
/ eiobf of food him
From the then existing symptoms one
of the physicians was led to believe that
ins, cad of The patient being a cOnsump-
tive he was afflicted with empyema, or
a formation of pus in one of the cavities
OF the body. Further investigation
proved hat he had been correct in his
diagnosis, and Preparations were at
once begun to locate the formation.
By means OF a probe it was found to
be in the space between the serous mem
brane sac around one of the lungs and
the lung itself. y tube was introduced
through the cartilage between the
seventh and eighth ribs and the sac
puncIured. For several days there was
steady flow of pus through the tube,
and the patient professed to be growing
better. 1t was not long. however
before the state of affairs vas an ex
ceedingly delicate and dangerous one
and owing to the complications existing
it was impossible to use the probe and
tube as before. The sac had refilleC
with the frs: forming pus, and as tb'
space between the seTous membrane and
the lung was occupied, the heart OF the
young man was pushed out of position
toward the right side of the body and
the lung 50 greatly compressed as to eE
tirely stop respiration. The situation
was indeed alarming, and caus, much
excitement among the physicians, who
had manifested much interest in the
case.
As a dernjer resort, 1t was finally
decided TO reach the seat OF the trout L
by cutting through the side OF the body
The young man was informed OF the
intentions of the physicians, and readily
gave his consent. He was placed under
the influence Of the most powerful an.
aesthetics, owing to his extremely weak.
ened condition, ard several inches OF
the seventh and eighth ribs cut away
leaving the terribly distended lungs III
in full view.
No one Of the internal organs was in
its proper place. The heart was pushed
full up to the right side of the BODY by
the diseased lungs, and already showed
traces of a similar affection, The lungs
themselves had been swollen so that they
occupied nearly the entire thorax, and
in few days respiration would have
been totally suspended.
As soon as the yOuTg man was able
to stand the operation, the pus sac was
again punctuIed and the entire contents
drained therefrom. Over a gallon of
pus and bruised blood was drawn from
his lungs and the sac thoroughly
cIeansed. The opening in his side was
then covered with a silver plate, and
the skin brought together over It. \
very light diet was ordered, and for
several weeks the patient lowered be-
tween life and death. At the end of a
month, however, he began 10 improve,
much to the satisfaction of the attend
ing physician, and q few weeks ago was
able to leave his bed He now weighs
140 pounds, eats heartily, and is of great
assistance around the wards. Amputa-
tiOn of his leg was found not necessary,
and it began to grow better as the
empyema disappeared.
THE Chicago Journal says I once
saw young soldier who belonged to a
] hatfarv of arfilIeru nnnarad in natch-